An Honorable Soldier in General Washington's Army: Chapter 15
by Tami B.
Disclaimer: The following work has been written solely for the enjoyment of fans and not for monetary profit. The rights to the characters initially created for the Daniel Boone series belong to 20th Century Fox and Fess Parker. All other characters are of the author's own creation. No copyright violation is intended.
Charging into the room, Adam shouted to the man's back, raising the firewood in a threatening manner. "You made a big mistake coming back here!"
Turning around, the man was definitely not Markes. "I beg your pardon," the man said.
Coming from behind, Daniel took the firewood away from Adam who relinquished it freely.
Stammering, Adam said, "My apologies, sir. I thought you were someone else."
"Thank goodness," the man said good-naturedly. "I thought the whole Continental Army was after me having been mistaken for a bloody lobsterback." He then greeted Daniel. "How are you these days, Daniel?"
"Passable," Daniel said, moving past Adam to shake hands with the man.
"Stuart, may I present Corporal Adam Liberty," Daniel said. "Adam, this is Stuart James, a friend of mine who lives mainly in Virginia but visits family members in Harrodsburg occasionally."
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. James," Adam greeted Stuart who was built similarly to his father but bore no resemblance to him.
"And you, Corporal," Stuart said, shaking Adam's hand.
"Mr. Stuart, I'm very sorry for barging in on you. If you'll excuse me, sirs," Adam said taking his leave.
Caleb motioned for Adam to join him when he came down the stairs. Refusing his offer, Adam took a seat on the bench outside the tavern door. He watched Israel playing with the other children and had a longing to be small like that again without the burdens he was carrying now. Those long ago days were spent with a father who truly cared for him and not the oppressive beast he had become.
The tavern door came open and Daniel stepped out. Adam began to rise, but Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him. He then sat beside his soldier. "Adam, I'm not sure what I should say to you. You were planning bodily harm."
Ashamedly, Adam lowered his head. "I can't deny it, Colonel. It's true. And I promised you I would react better and I didn't."
"You have to think the right things before you react, Adam," Daniel advised. "How you do that I don't know, but you will do it. That's an order."
"Yes, sir," Adam said.
"You run off halfcocked again, Adam, and there will be severe consequences to pay," Daniel lectured.
"I understand, Colonel. I'll do my utmost to behave as expected," Adam said.
"Come on inside and get your cider," Daniel said, standing to his feet.
"If you don't mind, Colonel, I'd like to stay out here. I have some thinking to do," Adam said.
"All right, but do get your cider. It'd be discourteous not to allow Caleb the pleasure of buying your drink. He'd be very disappointed," Daniel explained with a smile.
"I'll do that, Colonel," Adam promised.
Patting him on the shoulder, Daniel said encouragingly, "You'll get through this, Adam. We both will."
Daniel left Adam to ponder his innermost feelings. After he thought all he could think, Adam took Caleb up on his offer. The cider was most refreshing and so was the company.
At last, the women's secret society came to an end. The Boones and Adam headed for home. Daniel never mentioned the incident in the tavern to anyone. He hoped it would be of no consequence.
The picnic with the Rands was turning into a very pleasant afternoon. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the Kentucky sun was shining its warmth upon the land and the people. All the Boones and Rands were fishing except Rebecca and Agnes, who were conversing a short distance away from the river. So far, the fishermen were having no success.
"Andy and Israel are competing as to who will catch the most fish," Agnes said. "I'd say both are losing."
"We all will, if someone doesn't catch something. Adam will be especially perturbed. He hasn't eaten for a couple of hours," Rebecca remarked.
"Speaking of Adam, he really came to Jemima's defense the other day at the tavern. Could it be he's got special feelings for her?" Agnes questioned.
Rebecca chuckled. "I can't speak towards his feelings. Based on his actions towards her, I'd say he thinks of her more as a sister than a prospect for courting."
"I wouldn't be too sure, Rebecca. Why wouldn't he court a pretty girl like Jemima? They get along famously," Agnes asked.
"The short answer is that Adam would find it difficult to become involved with Jemima because she's thee colonel's daughter and it would be unseemly for a corporal to court an officer's daughter," Rebecca explained.
"When love captures the heart such social divisions are minor," Agnes said.
"Not to him. Besides, his main concern is the elimination of British oppression. Courting takes second place to that," Rebecca told her.
"A shame," Agnes continued. "Adam would be quite a catch. Jemima couldn't do any better. He has all the qualities a mother would want in a son-in-law."
"Agnes, you haven't listened to a word I said. Adam won't court Jemima or anyone else until the war is over," Rebecca reminded.
"Not on his own, but you could encourage it," Agnes suggested.
"And what am I to do with my daughter's broken heart when he heads off to war?" Rebecca asked.
"Same thing you do when Daniel goes on one dangerous mission after another," Agnes cunningly said.
"That was a cheap shot," Rebecca said pointedly.
Agnes smiled then broke into a laugh. "Yes, it was."
"Given the circumstances, I will be derelict as a mother if I promoted Jemima and Adam courting," Rebecca said.
"Nonsense," Agnes said. "You'd be doing your daughter a great favor. Where on the frontier are you going to find someone like Adam? There isn't one. Rebecca Boone, you ought to take my advice and get those two hitched."
"Having Adam for a son-in-law would be divine, but it's not to be. He's steering a different course that will take him east and far from the frontier," Rebecca said.
"If my daughter Sarah was still available, you can be sure I'd be doing everything I could to get those two together," Agnes said.
"Sarah is twenty years old by now. Don't you think that's a little old for an almost seventeen-year-old?" Rebecca asked.
"It's only three years and anyway, Adam has matured beyond his years," Agnes said. "Too bad Andy's a boy or I'd try marrying him off to Adam."
The two women laughed out loud. "Adam says after the war he's going to settle in Kentucky so we'll have him for a neighbor."
"That's all well and good, but I wanted him in your family or mine and yours held the best possibility," Agnes explained.
"You can always divorce Caleb and try marrying Adam yourself," Rebecca suggested.
"That would be a sight!" Agnes said, giggling. "Just imagine that young sprout with an old woman like me."
"Ma! Ma!" Israel yelled as he approached his mother bearing a small fish. "Look what I caught."
"Oh, Israel, that's a fine catch. You are an excellent fisherman," Rebecca complimented him.
"Andy hasn't caught any yet," Israel said snidely. "Here, Ma, I'll catch more," he said, handing Rebecca the fish then ran back to the river passing Jemima and Adam who were walking together towards the two women with their fish.
"Speaking of fine catches," Agnes said. "Here he comes now with his bride right by his side."
"Agnes, hush!" Rebecca said in a low voice.
Jemima and Adam stopped near Rebecca. "I'll take Israel's fish, Mrs. Boone. We'll make it ready for cooking along with ours."
"Thank you, Adam," Rebecca said.
"You're welcome," Adam said.
"Adam, Rebecca tells me you intend to settle in Kentucky after the war. Is that right?" Agnes asked.
"That's correct. I even have a few areas of land selected but haven't decided which I will call my very own just yet," Adam informed her.
"You'll need a wife," Agnes said.
Rebecca glared at Agnes, crossing her arms in annoyance. Her blue eyes narrowed into slits.
"Yes, I will," Adam agreed.
"What about Jemima? She'd make a fine wife," Agnes suggested.
"Agnes!" Rebecca exclaimed.
Both Adam and Jemima reddened. "It's too early for me to court, Mrs. Rand," Adam explained. "There's a war on and I'm committed to it until it's over. It wouldn't be right to court a girl when I'm deeply involved in the cause for liberty."
"Jemima, Adam, go clean the fish. I must speak to Agnes alone," Rebecca ordered.
"Yes, Ma," Jemima answered.
They stepped well away from the two women and began to clean the fish.
"Agnes, I ought to whup you as Israel says. You put those two on the spot," Rebecca chided her. "Stop meddling and leave them alone. Let them be friends and no more."
"Fine, Rebecca," Agnes said, surrendering to her friend's wishes. "Don't blame me if Jemima marries some good for nothin' frontier boy when she could have had the finest in all the land."
"She'll marry who God intends for her marry and with His blessing that man will be like her father," Rebecca stated. "Let's talk about something else before I get mad and throw you into the river."
The two women laughed again as Jemima and Adam wondered what it was about but neither was brave enough to ask.
"Jemima, about what Mrs. Rand was saying. If I were to consider taking a wife, I'd want her to be very much like you," Adam said.
"That's very kind of you to say, Adam," Jemima told him, blushing. "And if I were to consider taking a husband, I'd want him to be very much like this fish!" She held the headless fish before his eyes.
Adam chuckled. "I now know how I rate in your eyes." At that moment, Adam saw something moving in the woods. He stared intently trying to make out what it was. Then the thought struck him that his father was out there.
"What are looking at?" Jemima asked, peering into the woods as well but seeing nothing of importance.
"My father," Adam said with anger, running in a hurry towards the place where he thought his father was hiding.
Jemima immediately ran for her father. "Pa! Pa!" she yelled.
Handing his fishing pole to Caleb, Daniel snatched his rifle then quickly went to meet his daughter.
"Pa, Adam thinks his father is in the woods. He went after him," Jemima informed him.
"Where did he go?" Daniel asked.
"That way," Jemima said, pointing past where she and Adam were cleaning fish.
Trotting in the same direction, Daniel went after Adam.
Meanwhile, Adam crashed through the woods following what he believed was his father. He didn't remember his father being this fleet of foot. Having run for what seemed a long time, Adam, completely winded, stop to rest. Even if he could run some more, he didn't know where he'd run to. He had lost sight of his quarry. Thinking himself very silly, he turned and walked back the same way he had come. Whatever he was trying to catch up to wasn't his father. He knew that now. His imagination had run amok, but he had it reined in now. Thinking it a bit amusing, he smiled, but would Daniel think so. He was about to find out because the frontiersman was trotting towards him.
"Everything is all right, Colonel," Adam said soothingly.
Breathing hard, Daniel said, "You mind explaining what's going on?"
"It's the funniest thing," Adam said lightheartedly. "I thought my father was spying on us and I took off after him. It wasn't my father. I don't know what it was except my imagination getting the better of me. Kind of funny, don't you think?"
"Hilarious," Daniel stated flatly, but his face said anything but. He couldn't let Adam just laugh this away. "What would you have done if it was your father?"
"I honestly don't know. I just reacted, but then I started considering that I didn't know what I was running after so I stopped," Adam confessed.
"You're improving. At least you did some thinking this time," Daniel observed.
"Colonel, I'm sorry. I know I'm a worry to you and Mrs. Boone. I'm trying to be and act like an honorable soldier in General Washington's army. Lately, that's been a chore. It used to come so easily to me," Adam explained. "I appreciate your patience with me, but maybe it's time we made some other arrangements for me. Mingo could possibly take me in for awhile until I'm straightened out."
"What am I to tell Mrs. Boone?" Daniel asked.
"I'll explain everything to her," Adam suggested.
"This I gotta hear," Daniel said. "If you're quite finished making like a panther, we'll go back to the picnic."
"Yes, sir," Adam said.
"Race ya!" Daniel said, his humor returning. Taking off like a shot, Adam followed closely behind but was losing ground. By the time Daniel returned to the river, Adam was at least a hundred yards behind.
Breathless, Adam joined Daniel and the others near the river. "Colonel, do you have wings on your legs? You weren't running. You were flying."
"Pa's the fastest runner in all the world," Israel told Adam proudly.
"I believe it," Adam said.
"Ah, Becky, Adam has something to tell you," Daniel said.
"What is it, Adam?" Rebecca asked.
"Give me just a minute, please. I need to catch my breath," Adam said. Once he could talk without needing to take in a lungful of air he continued. "The colonel and I were just talking and I thought maybe I should stay with Mingo for awhile, if he'll have me. This business with my father and me is too much on you and your family," Adam explained.
"Did you agree to this?" Rebecca asked her husband, her wrath stirring.
"Not yet," Daniel said.
Turning her attention back to Adam, she said firmly, "Adam Liberty, if I hear such absurd talk from you again, you'll be given the most menial chores I can devise to teach you a lesson."
"But, Mrs. Boone, I..." Adam began.
"And don't 'but' me, young man," Rebecca interrupted and continued to rant. "Whether you like it or not, we care about you and we don't throw anyone out when the going gets a little rough. Looks like you'll just have to put up with us until you're allowed to return to your unit. Do I make myself clear?"
"Very," Adam said, not liking being on the receiving end of Rebecca's wrath. "I'll make every effort to conduct myself properly."
"I'm glad this has been settled once and for all and no further discussion on this subject will be entertained. Now, go fish," Rebecca ordered.
"Yes, ma'am," Adam said compliantly.
Rebecca and Agnes walked away from the assembly smiling as the others, except Daniel and Adam, made for their fishing poles.
Adam turned towards Daniel. "You set me up, didn't you?" he asked accusingly.
"Yep," Daniel admitted.
"Colonel, that wasn't playing nice," Adam told him.
"No, it wasn't and I took some devilish delight that Becky unloaded on someone else other than me for a change," Daniel said.
"You snuck that one by me. I won't be so easily snuckered next time," Adam warned him using the term Israel had taught him.
"You've been ordered to fish and you're not doing it. Shall I tell Becky?" Daniel asked.
"No! No! I don't want to experience another round of her wrath," Adam complained then quickly found his fishing pole and began fishing with Daniel not bothering to keep the smile off his face.
Carrying an armload of wood, Adam entered the cabin where Rebecca was relaxing in her rocker sipping coffee. They were the only ones about the place. Jemima and Israel were picking berries and Daniel had gone to pay a visit to Mingo. Adam stacked the wood neatly in a wooden box near the fire. "That ought to be enough for a little awhile," he remarked.
"Yes," she agreed. "Since you've come, I never want for wood or practically anything else. You'll provide well for your family some day."
Taking a seat on the bench, Adam said, "Kentucky makes that almost easy. It has almost everything to raise a family. I love this land. What did you think of it when you first saw it, Mrs. Boone?" Adam asked.
Pausing before answering, Rebecca thought back to that time. It seemed so long ago yet not really. "What made Kentucky special to me wasn't the land, Adam. It was the look in Dan's eyes. They radiated with excitement and contentment. Since Kentucky brought such pleasure to him, I took a great deal of happiness in that. Of course, Kentucky has its share of dangers as you well know, but no worse than the colonies. It is a beautiful land and I can't imagine living anywhere else"
"Me neither," Adam said. "When I return to the war and the deprivations that are inherent to it, I will think about Kentucky and the people there, especially the founders of Boonesborough. In that, I will be renewed which will bolster my courage to carry on."
"That's quite an inspiration," Rebecca said, not liking to think about him suffering. He had in the past and survived.
"Sometimes soldiers need something more practical to hang on to than just fighting for an ideal," Adam said. "That was enough for me at first, but since this land has gotten into my heart and soul, my motive to see this country liberated from oppression is more urgent now that I intend to own a piece of it."
"While you're soldiering in the east, we'll do everything we can to keep Kentucky free from British influence," Rebecca promised him.
"I know you will. It's essential that America become an example to the whole world that it is possible to break the bonds of tyranny," Adam spouted.
"Your idealism is bubbling over," Rebecca observed.
"I'll try to rein that in. Reading Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry has made a great impression on me," Adam admitted.
"I don't mind hearing it. There's conviction and a fiery spirit in your voice when you speak. It must be reminiscent of those who have eloquently spoken against British rule," Rebecca said.
"I couldn't hold a candle next to those great men," Adam said modestly. "I am just a corporal."
"And an honorable soldier in General Washington's army," Rebecca said with a laugh.
Adam joined with her. "And proud to be that," he said then added. "All my dreams can be realized if my father would leave me alone."
"He'll let go eventually. He has to," Rebecca said.
"It's hard to see that happening. He thinks he knows what's best for my life and everybody else's. His intervention is not wanted or accepted. I'm not his slave to do his every bidding. Why can't he understand that I have aspirations of my own and they are just as admirable and, maybe more so, as his? Driving the British from our shores and then settling down in Kentucky with a wife, farming, and starting a family are noble goals," Adam ranted before stopping himself. "I apologize, Mrs. Boone, I won't speak of him again."
Rebecca could tell he was getting worked up, but maybe if he released some of his pent up anger it would be better for him in the long run. "No need to apologize, Adam. Your father has done some terrible things and you've kept your feelings about them pretty much to yourself. You can talk to me about them," Rebecca told him.
"No, Mrs. Boone, I can't burden you with that," Adam explained. "It wouldn't be right or proper. I appreciate the offer, however."
"Always remember the offer is open anytime, day or night. You will, won't you?" Rebecca asked.
Nodding his head, Adam said, "Yes ma'am." Then he stood and went to his pack to retrieve a book. Returning to the bench, he resumed sitting and said, "This is what I need. An avenue to overcome the driving desire to eliminate my father's meddling once and for all," Adam said, holding up his Bible before Rebecca then thumbed it open.
"Battling in this manner is most admirable, Adam. You're handling it in the right way," Rebecca said.
"It's much easier to fight Redcoats than this enemy within," Adam surmised. "But fight it I will."
"And you will win," Rebecca said encouragingly.
Adam smiled, thankful for Rebecca's concern. "Mrs. Boone, you are a blessing direct from the gates of Heaven, an angel. Have you been concealing your wings all this time?"
"Why, yes. But do be a good lad and don't tell anyone my secret," Rebecca said in jest.
"I won't have to. Most people will eventually figure it out because you can't hide your light under a bushel," Adam said.
"Ma! Injuns! Ma!" Israel screamed from outside.
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